Effort to plan for Alamo Plaza's future advances

Updated 6:46 am, Thursday, December 19, 2013

The view looking south at Alamo Plaza in 1898. The building on the left, owned by Hugo Schmeltzer & Co., became part of the Alamo grounds after being purchased and donated by Clara Driscoll.

The view looking south at Alamo Plaza in 1898. The building on the left, owned by Hugo Schmeltzer & Co., became part of the Alamo grounds after being purchased and donated by Clara Driscoll.

Photo: Courtesy Arcadia Publishing

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Alamo Plaza's hallowed grounds are closer to a plan for the future with the formation of a committee to outline a master plan.

Alamo Plaza's hallowed grounds are closer to a plan for the future with the formation of a committee to outline a master plan.

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Though nothing is decided yet, this is one interpretation of what Alamo Plaza could look like if it were to reflect the historical significance of the mission.

Though nothing is decided yet, this is one interpretation of what Alamo Plaza could look like if it were to reflect the historical significance of the mission.

Photo: Courtesy

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Some envision an Alamo Plaza that's friendlier to both visitors and locals, and at the same time a place that fosters greater reverence.

Some envision an Alamo Plaza that's friendlier to both visitors and locals, and at the same time a place that fosters greater reverence.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News / File Photo

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An Express-News reader shares disappointment with the plans to make changes to Alamo Plaza.

An Express-News reader shares disappointment with the plans to make changes to Alamo Plaza.

Photo: Express-News File Photo

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 15 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 23 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 24 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 25 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 27 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 28 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 29 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 30 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 31 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 32 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 34 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 36 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 37 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 38 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 39 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 40 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 41 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 42 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 43 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 44 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 45 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 46 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 47 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 48 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 49 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 50 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 51 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 52 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 53 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 54 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

Image 55 of 56

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Food trucks descend on downtown for An Evening in Alamo Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013.

Photo: Libby Castillo, MySA.com

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Effort to plan for Alamo Plaza's future advances

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SAN ANTONIO — City officials received a green light Wednesday from the City Council's Governance Committee on a plan to create a plan for Alamo Plaza.

But there's still more planning to be done. And ultimately, the city will have a comprehensive master plan for the plaza — the front porch to one of the state's most popular tourist destinations.

It started quietly last month when Councilman Diego Bernal filed a Council Consideration Request asking staff to recommend a “process, strategy, and next steps for a comprehensive master planning effort for Alamo Plaza.” He's called for something that's respectful to both the plaza and the Alamo's history.

The plan is to compose a committee of city staff, representatives from the state's General Land Office and other stakeholders. Its charge would be to prepare a vision and guiding principles, and outline the scope of what a master plan would look like.

That committee would then serve as an advisory committee for the master-planning process, which would include significant public input.

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City officials acknowledge that a key component of a comprehensive master plan will outline the use of the street-level retail space facing the plaza. Tenants in that block include Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Tomb Rider 3D, the Haunted Adventure and Louis Tussaud's Waxworks.

Clay Stewart, the Ripley's general manager, told the San Antonio Express-News in a previous story that he's heard all the complaints about his business and others that draw a stark contrast from the hallowed grounds of the Alamo.

“If there wasn't a demand for us, we wouldn't be able to sustain a business,” Stewart said in a November story.

But it's clear the use of their storefronts will be an important conversation leading into the creation of the master plan.

The Governance Committee was supportive Wednesday of moving forward.

“It's time to get the ball rolling,” Bernal said during the quick briefing.

Castro concurred.

“I agree,” he said. “It's time to move forward on this.”

He called for ensuring that Alamo Plaza and the Alamo itself is “as magnificent as possible.”

It's too soon to know exactly what the master plan will show, Bernal said in an interview.

“What the plaza ultimately looks like will be determined by the committee,” he said. “It's dangerous to leave those decisions to one person.”

But by bringing everyone to the table, he said, a collective group representing diverse interests will ultimately arrive at the best solution.